Gulport police are going high tech to combat a rise in bicycle thefts and vehicle burglaries.
Patrol officers will be paying closer attention to bicycle rides, stopping those who are violation of statutory bicycle regulations.
During these encounters, officers will check bicycle serial numbers against a database of known stolen property.
Other tactics are more high tech. They include setting up decoy operations using "bait bikes" police can electronically track.
An embedded tracking device unknown to the potential thief, will send a text message alert to an investigator when the bike is moved.
At that point, the investigator can launch a mobile app that will allow him to her to track the movement of the bicycle.
This is similar to a program recently put into operation in San Francisco, and reports indicate it has been very successful there, police say.
In the meantime, residents can prevent theft on their own by securing their property. So, lock cars, and park them in the driveway whenever possible.
Police say vehicles parked on the street are much more likely to be burglarized. Also, park in well-lit areas, and do not leave valuables in plain view. Police say GPS devices are very common targets.
Store bicycles inside a garage or shed, and close and lock the door when not in use. Police say most stolen bicycles are taken from porches or open garages.